Metallic window.



J.F.RUTH METALLIC WINDOW. APPLICATION FILED MAILZB, 1907. RENEWED JAN. 3, 1911.

Patented June 4, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOuRAPH CO-.\VASHINIJTON, D. C.

JOHN F. RUTH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

METALLIC WINDOW.

Application filed. March 26, 1907, Serial No. 364,694. Renewed January 3, 1911.

To all whom 2'2. may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. RUTH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Windows, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates generally to metallic windows, and more particularly to devices arranged upon a metallic window and the sash thereof whereby the upper sash is automatically closed when certain parts of the devices are released by excessive heat due to adjacent fire.

My invention consists of a weight which is connected to the upper sash of the window by a chain, cord, or tape, and which weight acts as a counterbalance when the upper sash is being moved vertically, said weight being attached to the chain or tape by an automatic clutch, which is thrown into action when the chain or tape is released by the breaking of a fusible joint due to excesive heat.

To the above purposes, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a window of my improved construction, the left hand portion of the frame being shown in section to more clearly illustrate the automatic sash closing devices; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the automatic clutch made use of in carrying out my invention; Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings z-1 designates the frame of the window which is constructed of suitable sheet metal, and in which are arranged to operate the lower sash 2 and upper sash 3.

The lower sash is counterbalanced by the usual weights and the upper sash is counterbalanced by a 'pair of weights 5, one of which is connected by means of a clutch to the downwardly pending loop of a chain, cord, or tape 6, which passes over a grooved pulley 7 arranged in the top port-ion of the window frame, one end of said chain, cord,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1912.

Serial No. 600,528.

or tape being secured in any suitable manner to the top portion of the upper sash. The opposite end of said chain, cord, or tape is secured to the outer end of a horizontally disposed finger 8, which is arranged at the top of the window frame, with its inner end connected by means of fusible metal 9 to a bracket 10 fixed to the window frame and projecting downwardly into the opening therethrough.

The clutch arranged between the loop of the chain or tape and the weight comprises a pair of plates 11, between the upper corners of which are journaled a pair of rollers 12, beneath which the chain or tape passes; and arranged between these rollers is a fixed block 13.

Pivot-ally carried between the lower ends of the plates is a swinging link 14, which is connected at its lower end to the weight 5, and pivotally connected to the upper end of said link is a jaw 15, the upper face of which is provided with teeth; and passing through a lug 16, which is formed integral with the upper end of the link 14, is a ver tically disposed set screw 17, which bears against the under side of the jaw 15, and by means of which the vertical position of said jaw is adjusted relative to the link 14.

hen the finger 8 is properly connected to the bracket 10 by the fusible connection, the two rollers 12 occupy the same horizontal plane, and the jaw 15 occupies a position away from the under side of the block 11, owing to the position of the pivot point of the link 14 relative the journals of the rollers 12.

The fusible connect-ion 9 is exposed in order to be readily affected by excessive heat, such as that of an adjacent fire; and should the connection be destroyed, the finger 8 and portion of the chain or tape 6 between said finger and the clutch will drop, thus swinging the pivot point of the link 14 into alinement with the journal of the right hand one of the rollers 12, which movement throws the jaw 15 upward; and, as a result, the chain or tape is engaged by the teeth of said jaw and clutched against the under side of the block 11; and the weight 5 is now shifted to "that portion of the chain or tape between the clutch and the pulley 7 and the pull of the weight being direct will instantly close the upper sash, thus preventing the passage of flames through the window opening.

In some instances, the clutch may be done away with, and a pulley utilized in the place thereof; and, where this is done, a stop, such as 18, is applied to the chain or tape so as to engage the pulley and thus form a fixed connection between the weight and the chain or tape when the finger 8 is released.

By locating the stop 18 on the chain or tape on which the clutch is located, an auxiliary means is provided for uniting the weight and the flexible connection, should the clutch for any reason fail to automatically engage the flexible connection.

A window of my improved construction is simple and inexpensive, and the upper sash thereof is so weighted as to be manually movable under normal conditions, and to instantly close in case of adjacent flre, thus preventing the spread or passage of fire through a window opening equipped with my improved window, and the automatic sash closing device.

I claim 1. In a window of the class described, a frame, sashes operating therein, a weight operating in the frame, a flexible connection between one sash and the weight, a pulley arranged in the frame over which the flexible connection passes, a fusible means between one end of the flexible connection and the frame, and an automatically operating clutch forming a connection between the weight and the flexible connection.

2. In a window of the class described, a frame, sashes operating therein, a weight, a flexible connection between one sash and the weight, a pulley 011 the frame over which the flexible connection passes, fusible means between one end of the flexible connection and the frame, a normally free connection uniting the weight and the flexible connection which is locked to said flexible connection when the fusible means is broken, and an auxiliary means rigidly fixed on the flexible connection and forming an emergency stop against which the normally free connection engages, should the same fail to connection, one end of which is attached to grip the flexible connection when the fusible means is broken.

3. In a metallic window of the class described, the combination with a counterbalancing weight and the window chain or cable, of a clutch arranged between the weight and the cable, which clutch comprises a housing, a pair of pulleys arranged therein, a fixed block between the pulleys, a link pivotally carried by the housing and which link carries a weight, and a jaw adjustably arranged on the upper end of the link and adapted to clamp the chain or cable against the fixed block.

4C. In a window of the class described, the combination with the frame and sashes arranged for operation therein, of a flexible connection fixed at one end to one of the window sashes, fusible means uniting the opposite end of said flexible connection to the window frame, a pulley arranged on the window frame over which the flexible connection passes to forln a depending loop i said flexible connection between the fusible means and the window sash, a normally free clutch arranged to move on the loop in the flexible connect-ion, a weight carried by said clutch, and which clutch is locked to the flexible connection when the fusible means is broken.

5. In a window of the class described, a frame, sashes operating therein, a flexible one of the window sashes, fusible means connecting the opposite end of the flexible connection to the window frame, a counterbalancing weight, and an automatically operating clutch carrying the weight arranged to normally move free upon the flexible connection.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. RUTI-I.

WVitnesses:

M. P. SMITH, E. L. WALLACE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

